📷 Image Credits: Mint
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, recently presented the Maharashtra Budget for the year 2024-25. The budget announcement comes ahead of the state assembly elections scheduled to be held in October. This budget unveiling brought a host of financial assistance measures and welfare schemes for various sectors in Maharashtra.
One of the key highlights of the budget was the introduction of the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’, which entails a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 for eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 years. This scheme is set to be implemented from July onwards, with an annual budgetary allocation of ₹46,000 crore to support it.
In addition to the monthly allowance for women, Ajit Pawar announced the ‘Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana’, under which eligible families will receive three free cooking gas cylinders every year. This move aims to alleviate the financial burden on households, especially in terms of essential cooking fuel.
Furthermore, the budget includes various bonuses and financial aid for farmers in Maharashtra. The government will provide a bonus of ₹5,000 per hectare to all farmers for their cotton and soybean crops, recognizing their contribution to the state’s agricultural sector. Moreover, milk-producing farmers will receive a bonus of ₹5 per litre, even after July 1, 2024, to support their livelihood.
The budget also prioritizes the welfare of farmer communities by waiving electricity bill dues for 44 lakh farmers in Maharashtra. Additionally, the state government has introduced various initiatives to support women, such as offering pink e-rickshaws to 10,000 women across 17 cities and implementing schemes like the ‘AAi Yojana’ to create job opportunities for women.
Overall, the Maharashtra Budget for 2024-25 reflects a commitment to addressing the needs of different sections of society, including women, farmers, and marginalized communities, through a range of financial assistance schemes and welfare programs.
